The story behind the "NaNa Wall" begins in the 1980s, when the building's owner, Leo C. Gerstenzang, commissioned a local artist to paint a mural on the side of his women's clothing store. The artist, whose identity is unclear, created a massive portrait of a woman with a rather... let's say, "expressive" face.
This thermal integrity is what makes the product viable in the Midwest. It is not a fair-weather feature; it is a year-round architectural element. In the depths of a Wilmette winter, the walls act as a solar collector, passively heating the interior spaces. In the humidity of August, they serve as a massive ventilation source, creating cross-breezes that air conditioning cannot replicate. nanawall wilmette